U.S. 30 relocation targets May 2001 for acquisitions

Published: June 6, 2000 12:00AM

By May of next year, the state plans to be in the process of acquiring the right of way for the expansion and relocation of U.S. 30.

The plan is to widen and relocate a 7.6-mile stretch of U.S. 30 between Hillcrest Drive and Kansas Road, according to Tom O'Leary, District Three Deputy Director for the Ohio Department of Transportation, who spoke at Monday morning's "Eggs and Issues" breakfast at Memories banquet center in Wooster.

The new route will be a four-lane divided highway with limited access and interchanges. The change will improve traffic and safety conditions along the route, according to ODOT information.

"We have goods and people we want to get in and out of Wayne County," O'Leary said.

Some meeting attendees expressed concern the expansion will not be quite extensive enough, stopping before reaching the high traffic area at Ohio 57, which connects U.S. 30 to Orrville, and is the site of a number of businesses including the Simply Smuckers store.

"I think all along we've understood that this project would not extend to 57," Orrville Safety Service Director Becky Jewell said. "The project has a starting point and an ending point and it's just one of the realities we've accepted. Perhaps someday it will all be four-lane, limited access road but that will be another project."

O'Leary said the length of the expansion was a matter of budgetary concerns and money to continue the extension all the way to 57 was not available. According to ODOT information, the total right of way cost is estimated at $2.5 million and the cost of construction is at $69.4 million.

Other concerns over the expansion include issues expressed by the Farmland Preservation Society and those by local emergency services.

Farmland Preservation is concerned a proposed interchange at Apple Creek Road will lead to the inevitable development and destruction of presently undeveloped land at that site. On the other hand, emergency services providers fear no interchange at that location will considerably increase response times to accidents within that stretch.

According to O'Leary, ODOT is aware of both parties' concerns and is open to discussion and proposals as construction plans have yet to be finalized.